Dr. Robert Gall, Director (left) and Dr. Richard Rotunno, Assistant Director (right).

Message from the Director

The mission of the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) Division is to advance understanding of the mesoscale and microscale aspects of weather and climate and to apply this knowledge to benefit society. To carry out this mission, we have aligned our research along two principal themes: Prediction of Precipitating Weather Systems (PPWS) and Cloud and Surface Processes and Parameterizations (CaSPP). In line with the NCAR Strategic Plan, our research integrates modeling, observations, and theoretical understanding. By focusing our efforts and establishing effective collaborations with universities and other research agencies, we have successfully accelerated progress towards achieving the goals of MMM's Science Plan.

Some specific highlights of the past year that benefited the community were our organizing and conducting of the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Covective Vortex Experiment (BAMEX) field campaign to understand convective evolution in complex mesoscale environments and our releasing of the MM5/WRF (Mesoscale Model_5 /Weather Research Forecasting model) 3DVAR data assimilation system to the research community. Other important accomplishments include advancing ensemble-forecasting techniques through experimental calculation of the approximate analysis-error covariance singular vectors based on ensemble EnKF technique and establishing a Development Testbed Center (DTC) to accelerate the direct transfer of new research results from the WRF model into the NWS and other operational forecasting processes.

The division also made significant contributions to a number of NCAR Strategic Initiatives including the Biogeosciences, the Wildland Fire Collaboratory, the Water Cycle across Scales, the WRF/ESMF, and the Data Assimilation Initiatives. Our progress made in these projects is summarized in the Executive Summary and described more fully in the Research section of this report.

As part of a national center, we emphasize collaboration with national and international universities and other research institutions. This past year we hosted 387 visitors, of which 104 were foreign visitors representing 25 countries and 80 universities. Another high priority for the division is our service to the research community through support of the MM5 and WRF models. In FY2003 we sponsored a number of MM5 and WRF workshops and tutorials for the community. These events are extremely popular as evidenced by the high participation rate and positive feedback received. Details of these and other community service and outreach activities are outlined in the Community Service and Educational Activities section.

Over this past year, leadership of the division was shared by me and Rich Rotunno, MMM Assistant Director. For seven months I served as Interim NCAR Deputy Director and Rich assumed the role of MMM Director. This period provided an exciting opportunity for both of us to increase our contributions to the institution.

Another exciting opportunity for the division as well as for me will occur in the upcoming year. I recently accepted a position as the first director for the newly established NCAR/NOAA-sponsored Development Testbed Center (DTC). This new center, which will be located within NCAR, will work at the interface between research and operations for weather modeling. It signifies a new level of strategic partnership between NOAA and NCAR, and potentially other operational weather forecast modeling agencies.

I am very proud to have had the opportunity to lead the MMM Division for more than 12 years. I believe that regular change in leadership is healthy for continuation and expansion of our world-class science program. Thus I have elected to step down as MMM director as soon as a new director can be found.

I hope your perusal of our annual scientific report will be enjoyable and stimulating. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, Rich Rotunno, or any of our scientific or administrative staff.